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Novak Djokovic ‘Glad to Break the Curse’ About Roger Federer Who Watched Him Reach Wimbledon Quarterfinals

Originally posted on FirstSportz | By Gouri Das | Last updated Jul 8, 2025 8:38 AM ET

When Novak Djokovic was battling with 11th seed Alex de Minaur in the fourth round of Wimbledon, Roger Federer was in the stands of the Centre Court watching the match they played on Monday (July 7). Djokovic could win just one game in the first set but he eventually forced the comeback to book a spot in the quarterfinals for the seventh consecutive time at Wimbledon with a 1-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 scoreline.

With this win, he took a 3-1 head-to-head lead over the Australian player. If he reaches the final and lifts his eighth title in the event, he will tie the tally with Federer, who lifted his last in 2017.

Now Djokovic has lost the last couple of matches when Federer was in the stands watching him play. When asked in the press conference about the Swiss maestro after the win, Nole said he is relieved after finally breaking the curse.

We did catch up very shortly….we greeted each other. He congratulated me and said it was a great match. That’s all. It was a very short greeting but it was really nice to have him around. Obviously, he’s one of the greatest legends of our game in the history of tennis. It’s always extra special when he’s on the stands. I’m glad to break the curse and win in front of him.

Federer, the 20-time Major champion, was the first member of the Big 3 to hang up his racket, at the 2022 Laver Cup. Later Rafael Nadal joined him on the retirement list after winning 22 Majors. Djokovic, in the ongoing event, is bidding to lift his 25th Major, which has eluded him since 2023 US Open.

Novak Djokovic doesn’t think he is the favorite to win against Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner

Novak Djokovic‘s former coach Goran Ivanisevic backed the Serb to win Wimbledon ahead of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. The 38-year-old is projected to face Sinner in the semifinals and Alcaraz in the final and was asked about Ivanisevic’s prediction at the press conference after his fourth-round win.

I love Goran, and I’m glad he loves me, but I don’t think I’m a favorite against them right now. I think they are, both of them. But perhaps I have my best chance here against them probably, yes. If I have to face one or both of them, which I hope, it would mean reaching the final, so yes, obviously I’ll seek my best game to win.

Twice Djokovic has met the World No.1 at Wimbledon, winning both, including their semifinal encounter in 2023. Against the five-time Grand Slam champion, however, Djokovic has lost back-to-back Wimbledon finals in the last two seasons.

Djokovic trails 4-5 in the head-to-head encounters with Sinner as he lost in the semifinal of this year’s French Open. But against Alcaraz, Djokovic has won five of the nine matches they played against each other, including their clash in the quarterfinal of this year’s Australian Open.

Djokovic will next face Italy’s Flavio Cobolli, who knocked out 2017 Wimbledon runner-up Marin Cilic. He has faced the World No.24 once and won that match.

Sinner too has reached the quarterfinal after receiving a walkover from Grigor Dimitrov, who injured his pectoral muscle while hitting an ace in the third set after taking two sets off the three-time Grand Slam champion. He will next be locking horns with 10th seed Ben Shelton against who, he holds a 5-1 head-to-head record.

Alcaraz, who is also bidding to complete the Channel Slam for two consecutive seasons, will be facing Cameron Norrie for a spot in the semifinals. Before reaching the last eight, Alcaraz went past Andrey Rublev in four sets.

This article first appeared on FirstSportz and was syndicated with permission.

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